Two-piece nested inverted dome cup

ABSTRACT

A multiple cup container device for separately storing two consumables to be later consumed together, has a first cup for storing a first consumable and a second cup for storing a second consumable. Each cup has a flange about its open end. The first cup&#39;s flange has a recess therein within which the second cup flange is nested. The nested flanges provide a continuous flat surface there across without any gaps between the flanges. A removable cover seals the container device and removably secures the second cup within the first cup. After removal of the cover, the second cup can be removed from the first cup. The second consumable may then be dispensed within the first cup to allow both consumables to be consumed from the first cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a container device having two containers forseparately containing two consumables therein, wherein one container isremovable from the other container to allow the dispensing of itscontents into the other container for mixing with the other consumableand to thereafter provide a container from which the consumables can beconsumed.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is increasingly common for foods to be purchased in containers fromgrocery stores, convenience stores and fast food outlets in packagesthat also act as the container from which the foods are consumed. As aresult of this general trend, a particular need exists for multiplecompartment containers that allow the packaging of two consumables whichare intended to be consumed together, but cannot be packaged together indirect contact with each other, because to do so would compromise thefreshness, crispness or texture of one or both of the consumables.

The need also exists for a multiple compartment container which is easyto grip, provides a space convenient for mixing the consumables togetherwithout spilling, and is convenient to eat from once the consumables aremixed together. Moreover, such a container needs to be relativelycompact, attractive, simple and inexpensive to manufacture. A furtherneed of the multiple compartment container is that it must be capable ofefficient filling of each of the separate consumables during massprocessing, and thereafter be provided with a reliable and secure sealto close the container.

A need exists for a multiple container device wherein the containers arepositioned together in a manner which does not create any voids orcrevices into which food or foreign products might enter. When thisoccurs, it results not only in an unsightly appearance, but alsopresents the possibility of the development an unhealthy or unsanitarycondition.

A number of multiple container packages have been disclosed in the priorart, each with its own particular short comings. For example, YoFarmCo., of Naugatuck, Conn., has a yogurt and granola combinationseparately contained and sold in one package. The package has twoseparate containers stacked in a piggy back arrangement. The yogurt isfilled in a lower plastic container and the granola is packaged in aseparate second plastic container. The granola container is removablymounted on top of, and outside of, the lower yogurt container. Such acontainer device has at least two drawbacks. First the piggy backarrangement adds to the overall height of the container, and thus thecontainer takes up additional space during shipping and storage.Secondly, the lower container, when filled with yogurt, may lackadequate head space above the yogurt packaged therein to minimizespilling when the granola is dispensed by the consumer into the lowercontainer. The possibility of spillage is also an issue when the yogurtgranola combination is later consumed from the container.

Other examples of multiple container packages are U.S. Pat. Nos.2,237,610 and 3,349,941. U.S. Pat. No. 2,237,610 discloses an uppercontainer for holding cream, with the upper container being removablymounted within a larger lower container for holding cream cheese. U.S.Pat. No. 3,349,941 discloses an upper container suitable for storingfresh fruit and removably mounted within a larger lower containersuitable for storing cottage cheese. Neither of these patents however,provides a lower container which has two distinct compartments in whichthe lower container has a significantly reduced diameter lowercompartment for the purpose of allowing the container to be convenientlygripped during the consumption of its contents. They also do not providea container having an upper compartment of increased diameter relativeto the lower compartment for conveniently receiving and mixing the foodproduct from the removed upper container. Also, those container devicesdo not provide an upper container that nests within the uppermost topsurface of the rim of a bottom container, with a single cover thatcontacts and seals both the bottom and top containers.

The need exists for a multiple container device for storing twoconsumables that is convenient to grip and minimizes spilling when thetwo consumables are combined and consumed from the container device. Themultiple container device also needs to have one container removablysecured to the other container in a manner which does not create voidsor crevices in places that might allow unwanted food or foreign productsto accumulate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the one aspect of the present invention, a containerdevice is provided which has a bottom cup for storing a first consumableand a top cup for storing a second consumable. The bottom cup has alower compartment and an upper compartment. The lower compartment of thebottom cup has an outer periphery of a diameter which allows convenientand sure gripping within the hand of a typical consumer. The lowercompartment also provides a chamber for storing the first consumable,while the upper compartment provides a space for the removable mountingof the top cup within the bottom cup. After removal of the top cup, theupper compartment provides a space into which the second consumable canbe dispensed to rest above the first consumable in the lowercompartment. The upper compartment is provided with an increaseddiameter relative to the lower compartment to provide a chamber in whichthe second consumable can be conveniently dispensed and mixed with thefirst consumable, and to reduce the chance of spilling. Also, theincreased diameter of the upper compartment provides a more convenientspace from which the mixed consumables may be accessed by the consumer.It also reduces the likelihood of spilling when the contents are eatenwith a spoon since the increased diameter allows the spoon to be removedat a more shallow angle from the lower cup.

In another aspect of the present invention the lower cup is providedwith a flanged rim at its open end which has an annular recess therein,and the top cup is provided with an annular flange formed about its openend. The top cup flange is positioned within the recess of the lower cupflange to removably mount the top cup within the bottom cup. The annularflange of the top cup is formed of a diameter and thickness that closelymatches the diameter and depth of the bottom cup's annular recess toprovide a continuous flat surface across the top of the flanges. Thisallows for effective mounting of the container's cover which to sealsthe bottom and top cups, while also removably securing the top cupwithin the bottom cup. Moreover, by closely matching the size and shapeof the top cup flange and bottom cup flange recess, no voids or crevicesoccur between the mating surfaces which could allow entrance therein offood particles during the filling of a food product by the manufacturer.If this did occur, the food products trapped in the container wouldlikely be spilled out when the top cup is removed from the lowercontainer. Such voids and crevices, if present, also would increase theopportunity for foreign particles to lodge therein, resulting in anincreased possibility that unsanitary or unhealthy conditions mightoccur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container device, showing in brokenlines the cover of the container device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a separated top cup and bottom cup.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the lower cup.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 a container device, generally indicatedas 10, has an upper or top cup 12, nested within a lower or bottom cup14. A top or cover 16 closes and seals container device 10. Cups 12 and14 may be formed from a variety of known materials and in a number ofknown ways, but preferably are thermoformed of a plastic material, suchas polypropylene, polyester or polystyrene, and cover 16 is preferablyformed of a thin flexible plastic material, for example, a lamination ofpolypropylene or polyester with or without metallization, and a suitableheat-sealable layer.

Bottom cup 14 has sidewall 18 with an integrally formed bottom end 20,and an annular flange 22 at its top end 24. Flange 22 defines opening 26providing access to the hollow interior of container device 10. As bestseen in FIG. 4, sidewall 18 has a lower section 28 of a generallyfrusta-conical shape, and an upper section 30, also is of a generallyfrusta-conical shape. The lower section 28 of sidewall 18 transitions ininto upper section 30 at shoulder, or flange 32, radially extendingoutward from top end 34 of lower section 28 of sidewall 18 to the bottomend 36 of the upper sidewall section 30.

Top cup 12 has a sidewall 38 and is closed at the bottom end by anintegrally formed bottom 40 providing top cup 12 with an inverted domeshape. On the top end of sidewall 38 there appears an annular flange 42.Annular flange 42 of top cup 12 has a generally flat top surface 44, agenerally flat bottom surface 46, and a generally vertical outerperipheral edge 48. Flange 22 of bottom cup 14 has a top surface 50 anda bottom surface 52, and formed within the innermost region of flange 22is an annular recess 54.

As best seen in FIG. 2, annular recess 54 has a general flat bottomsurface 56, and a generally vertical and generally flat edge wall 58. Itis noted that annual flange 42 of the cup 12 is formed to have an outerdiameter that is approximately the same as the diameter of recess 54 atvertical edge 58 of annual recess 54. Also, the thickness of top cupflange 42 is approximately the same as the thickness of the depth ofbottom cup flange recess 54. Thus, it can be appreciated that when topcup 12 is nested within bottom cup 14, outer vertical edge 48 of top cupflange 42 abuts against the inner vertical edge 58 of recess 54 inbottom cup flange 22. Also, since the thicknesses of top cup flange 42and bottom cup annular recess 54 are substantially the same, the topsurfaces 44 and 50 of flanges 42 and 22, respectively, provide acontinuous flat surface across the top surface of container device 10.

Thus, when cups 12 and 14 are nested together there are no voids or openspaces along the top surface of container device 10 into which foodparticles might enter upon the filling or packaging processes,especially as may occur during the filling of top cup 12. Moreover, itis noted that when cups 12, 14 are nested, the continuous level topsurfaces 44, 50 of flanges 42 and 50, respectively, is advantageous forattaching and sealing container cover 16 to surfaces 40,50. The flatcontinuous surface also reduces the possibility that thin cover 16 mightbe punctured at the juncture of flange edges 48, 58 during shipping andhandling of container device 10.

While container 10 may be utilized for a variety of applications, it isespecially adaptable for the packaging of two separate food productswhich are to be packaged separately in a single container device 10, andthat are intended for later combining and consumption from withincontainer 10. For purposes of illustration, container 10 is described aspackaging a yogurt as a first consumable 76 contained in bottom cup 14,and granola flakes as a second consumable 78 separately contained in topcup 12.

Before further discussing utilization of container 10, it is noted thatcontainer 10 provides, in effect, three distinct compartments orchambers. Lower cup 14 has a lower compartment 60 defined by the innersurface 62 of sidewall lower section 28, and by the inner surface 64 ofbottom end 20. Bottom cup 14 also has an upper compartment 66 defined bythe inner surfaces 68 of upper sidewall section 30 and by the innersurface 69 of annular flange 32. Lower compartment 60 is open at its topend adjacent to the bottom end opening of upper compartment 66. Uppercompartment 66 is also open to the exterior through top opening 26. Athird compartment 70 is provided for container 10 by top cup 12, and isdefined by the inner surface 72 of top cup bottom wall 40 and the innersurfaces 74 of the top cup sidewall 38. Prior to attachment of cover 16,compartment 70 is open to the exterior at opening 80.

In the packaging process, an empty bottom cup 14 is positioned at atypical filling station (not shown), such as that is known in the art.At the station, bottom cup 14 is filled with yogurt 76 to substantiallyfill the bottom cup lower compartment 60. Normally, yogurt 76 would notbe filled to a level which would extend into lower cup upper compartment66. After the filling of the yogurt 76, top cup 12 is positioned withinthe upper compartment 66 of bottom cup 14 with flange 42 nested withinannular recess 54. This may be accomplished at the same filling station,or at another station to which the bottom cup 14 has been transported.

In any event, when top cup 12 is positioned on bottom cup 14, top cup 12acts to seal opening 26 and thus also seals lower compartment 60containing the previously filled yogurt 76. At this point, the containerdevice 10 is ready for filling with a second consumable 78 such asgranola flakes 78. After filling, foil top cover 16 is positioned overthe top surfaces 42, 50, of flanges 22 and 42, respectively, and sealedthereto by any suitable means known in the art, such as, for example, byadhesive. Once so positioned, top 16 seals top opening 57 of top cup 12and also acts to further seal bottom cup opening 26, as well as toremovably secure top cup 12 within bottom cup 14. The filling of top cup12, and securing of cover 16, may take place at separate stationsdedicated for those processes, with container device 10 beingtransported between such stations. Thus, yogurt 76 and granola 78 can beseparately packaged in a single container device 10 to maintainfreshness and crispness of those products until later consumptiontogether.

At the time for consumption, a consumer removes foil cover 16 bygripping flap 82, shown in FIG. 1, to peel cover 16 away from flanges 22and 42. Thereafter, top cup 12 is removed from its position withinbottom cup 14. To aid this procedure, top cup 12 may be provided with aremoval aid (not shown), which may be, for example, a pull tab securedto top cup 12, or a depression or cut-out section formed within top cupsidewall 38 to better provide a grip for the removal of top cup 12. Onceso removed, the consumer dispenses granola 78 into container 10 throughopening 26 into upper compartment 66 of bottom cup 14 to contact yogurt76.

The novel container 10 of the present invention has been designed with anumber of user friendly features. First, the lower section sidewall 28of bottom cup 14 has a periphery which is of a shape and size which maybe conveniently gripped in the hand of a wide range of consumers. Also,the upper compartment 66 of bottom container 14 is of an increased crosssectional area relative to lower compartment 60. Whereas, the outerperipheral size of bottom compartment 66 is designed with the ability togrip in mind, the larger diameter size of upper compartment 66 isdesigned for the easy dispensing of second consumable 78 into lower cup14, and for also providing an increased diameter area for convenientlymixing consumables 76 and 78 together by means of a spoon (not shown),or other suitable utensil. In this regard, the increased diameter ofopening 26 for upper compartment 66, relative to the diameter of opening82 for lower compartment 60, also provides more room for the entrance ofa spoon or other utensil used to consume the food products. It alsoprovides a more convenient space to initially scoop the consumables fromthe container 10.

Stated another way, an advantage of the increased diameter uppercompartment 66 relates to the angle at which a spoon needs to bedisposed to initially scoop a consumable from container 10. Generallyspeaking, the more narrow a container, the steeper the angle at which aspoon needs to be positioned to gain access to the food stored therein.For example, a bowl shaped container allows a shallow angle for scoopingfood therefrom, while on the other extreme, a more narrow “test tube”like shaped container would require a relatively steep angle. Oneproblem with a steeper angle is that the product scooped by a spoon ismore likely to spill from the spoon if the user withdraws the spoon at asteep angle. A consumer may attempt to compensate for this effect bytilting the container as the consumer scoops food content from withinthe container. A tilted container however, is more likely to causespilling of the contents, especially initially when the container ismore fully filled with food product.

The present invention, with an increased diameter upper compartment,allows for a more shallow angle for initially scooping food products.Furthermore, as the volume of food content is reduced, the consumer maytilt the container to scoop the remaining contents from within container10, with the increased head space of the larger diameter top compartment66 acting to prevent spilling of the contents from container 10.Moreover, the above advantage is accomplished without increasing thediameter of lower section 28 to a point where the ease of gripping thecontainer would be compromised.

Another advantage of container device 10 of the present invention liesin the fact that the increased diameter upper compartment 66 of bottomcup 12 provides an illusion of greater volume for the container overall.This aids the manufacturer in marketing its product, and aids a dietconscious consumer by providing a serving portion which appears largerthan it actually is.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with ayogurt and granola combination, the container may be used with countlessother combinations. It may also have more than one consumable placed inan individual compartment, either in a layered arrangement or mixedtogether, as long as those consumables can be compatibly storedtogether. Moreover, the consumable need not be limited to edibleconsumables, and other types of materials may be advantageously storedin container device 10. Also, other shapes maybe employed for the cupsrather than the inverted domed shape shown for top cup 12 and thefrusta-conical shaped compartments of the bottom cup 14.

Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,”“bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,”“length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms areused herein, it should be understood that these terms have referenceonly to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only tofacilitate describing the invention.

Modifications may be made to the embodiments described above withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts thereof. Accordingly, thepresent invention is not limited to the particular embodiments nor tothe theoretical description disclosed, but is intended to cover allmodifications that are within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. A multiple cup container device for separately storing twoconsumables to be later consumed together, comprising: a first cup forstoring a first consumable, said first cup having a first sidewall witha top end and an opposite bottom end with a closed bottom, said firstsidewall having a first flange formed around said top end of said firstsidewall, said first flange defining an opening to the interior of saidfirst cup, said first flange having top surface and a recess formed insaid top surface along the inner periphery of said first flange, saidrecess having a bottom surface and edge wall surface; a second cup forstoring a second consumable, said second cup having a second sidewallwith a first end and a opposite end with a closed bottom, said secondsidewall having a second flange formed around said first end of saidsecond sidewall of said second cup defining an opening to said secondcup, said second flange extending outwardly from said second sidewall ofsaid second cup, and said second flange having a top surface and a outerperipheral edge, said second flange of said second cup removablypositioned within said recess of said first cup with said peripheraledge of said second flange abutting said edge wall surface of saidrecess of said first flange, a cover for said container device, saidcover removably positioned over said first and second flanges to sealsaid container device and removably secure said second cup within saidfirst cup, said second cup being removable from said first cup to allowsaid second consumable to be dispensed from said second cup into saidfirst cup for consumption of said first and second consumables from saidfirst cup.
 2. The container device of claim 1 wherein said top surfaceof said first flange and said top surface of said second flange providea continuous flat surface, and said cover is attached to said topsurfaces of said first and second flanges.
 3. The container device ofclaim 1 wherein said first sidewall of said first cup has an innersurface and an outer surface, said first sidewall having an outwardlyextending shoulder located between said bottom end of said firstsidewall and said top end of said sidewall, said first sidewall having atop section of said first sidewall above said shoulder and bottomsection of said first sidewall below said shoulder, said first cuphaving an upper compartment and a lower compartment below said uppercompartment, said upper compartment having a first opening at one end toprovide said container device opening and a second opening at the otherend to provide an opening to said lower compartment, said lowercompartment defined at least in part by the bottom of said first cup andthe inner surface of said lower section of said first sidewall, saidupper compartment defined at least in part by said inner surface of saidupper section of said first sidewall, said outer surface of said lowersection of said first sidewall of said first cup having a circumferencewhich is smaller than the circumference of said outer surface of saidupper section of said first sidewall, said smaller circumference of saidlower section facilitating the holding of said first cup and providing afirst cross sectional area for said lower compartment, said largercircumference of said upper section providing a second cross sectionalarea for said upper compartment which is greater than said first crosssectional area of said lower compartment to facilitate said dispensingof said second consumable into said first cup and to facilitate removingsaid first and second consumables from said first cup duringconsumption.
 4. The container device of claim 3 wherein said second cupis mounted within said upper compartment of said first cup.
 5. Thecontainer device of claim 4 wherein said second cup acts to seal saidfirst cup when mounted therein.
 6. The container device of claim 4wherein said second flange has a thickness which is approximately equalto the depth of said recess formed in said first flange.
 7. Thecontainer device of claim 6 where in said first cup and said second cupare formed by thermoforming a plastic material.
 8. The container deviceof claim 7 wherein said cover comprises a relatively thin, flexiblemetalized plastic.
 9. The container device of claim 1 wherein said coveris adhered to said first and second flanges.
 10. The container device ofclaim 4 wherein said upper compartment provides a space into which saidsecond consumable can be dispensed after removal of said second cup fromsaid first cup, said increased diameter of said upper compartment actingto reduce the likelihood of spilling from said first cup during mixingof said first and second consumables and during consumption of saidfirst and second consumables from said first cup.
 11. The containerdevice of claim 4 wherein said first cup has at least one compartmentwith a generally frusta-conical shape, and said second cup has agenerally frusta-conical shape.
 12. The container device of claim 11wherein said first cup and said second cup are of a thermoformed plasticmaterial.
 13. A container device for at least two separate consumablescomprising: a first cup for storing a first consumable, said first cuphaving a hollow interior and a open top end; a second cup for storing asecond consumable, said second cup having sidewall with a top end and abottom end, a closed bottom at said bottom end of said sidewall, and anopen end at said top end of said sidewall, said sidewall having a outersurface and a inner surface forming a hollow interior in said secondcup, said second cup sidewall having a lower section and an uppersection, said second cup having a lower compartment for said storing ofsaid second consumable, said lower compartment defined at least in partby said inner surface of said lower section of said sidewall, saidsecond cup having an upper compartment, said upper compartment definedat least in part by said inner surface of said upper section of saidsidewall, said first cup removably mounted within said uppercompartment, said upper compartment having a first cross sectional areaand said lower compartment having a second cross sectional area which isless than said first cross sectional area, p1 said lower section of saidsidewall of said second cup having a periphery about its outer surfacewhich allows convenient gripping within a human hand, said first cupmounted in said upper compartment and removable therefrom to allowdispensing said first consumable into said upper compartment forconsumption with said second consumable from said second cup, aremovable cover for sealing said first and second cups, said cover alsoremovably securing said first cup within said upper compartment of saidsecond cup.
 14. The container device of claim 13 wherein said first cuphas a second sidewall with a first flange around said second sidewall atsaid open top end, said flange extending outward from said secondsidewall and having a top surface and a peripheral edge, said second cupsidewall having a second flange adjacent said open end, said secondflange extending outwardly from said sidewall and having a top surface,and a recess appearing in said top surface of said second flange, saidrecess having a bottom surface and an edge wall, said first cup firstflange being mounted into said second cup second flange recess.
 15. Thecontainer device of claim 14 wherein said peripheral edge of said firstflange abuts against said second flange recess edge wall when said firstcup is mounted within said second cup.
 16. The container device of claim15 wherein said cover is removably adhered to said top surfaces of saidfirst and second flanges.
 17. The container device of claim 16 whereinsaid first and second top surfaces form a generally flat and generallycontinuous surface across the top of said container.
 18. The containerdevice of claim 14 wherein said first cup has a generally frusta-conicalshape, and said second cup has at least one compartment with a generallyfrusta-conical shape.
 19. The container device of claim 18 wherein saidfirst cup and said second cup are of a thermoformed plastic material.